Variety of calathea plant named &#39;PRINCESS JESSIE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calathea Roseopicta  (Linden) Regel plant named ‘Princess Jessie’ having very dark colored leaves with a wide pink band on the leaf edges.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Calathea Roseopicta (Linden) Regel

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Princess Jessie’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calathea botanically classified as Calathea Roseopicta (Linden) Regel and known by the varietal name ‘Princess Jessie’. The new variety was discovered and selected by the breeder in a cultivated environment in 2006 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands as a naturally occurring mutation in a tissue culture plant population of unpatented and unnamed Calathea Roseopicta plants. Subsequently, the new variety was asexually reproduced by tissue culture and cuttings in Dongguang, Republic of China in January of 2007.

The most similar calathea variety to ‘Princess Jessie’ known to the breeder is ‘Dottie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,736). ‘Princess Jessie’ differs from ‘Dottie’ in that its upper leaf surfaces bear a much broader bright pink zone on the edge of the leaves. Also, the main color of the upper leaf surface of ‘Princess Jessie’ is black, while the main color of the upper leaf surface of ‘Dottie’ is a very dark grey-green. Further, under growing conditions in The Netherlands, ‘Dottie’ has a more compact growth habit than ‘Princess Jessie’. The following characteristics distinguish the new variety from other calathea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Very dark-colored leaves (almost black);     -   Compact growth habit; and     -   Very wide pink band on the edge of the leaves.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new cultivar, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an entire plant of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of multiple plants of the new variety;

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 is a comparison photograph of ‘Dottie’ (left) and ‘Princess Jessie’ (right).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

‘Princess Jessie’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length and light intensity. However, there is no variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The plants were grown under natural light in Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands. The plants were grown from tissue culture in 17 cm pots and were 24 days old when described. The temperature was from 19-23° C., and the relative humidity was 95%.

-   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: 7 days at 23° C. Winter: 7             days at 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: 10 weeks. Winter:             12 weeks.         -   Time to produce a finished plant from planting.—36 to 40             weeks in a 17 cm pot. -   The plant:     -   -   Plant height from soil to top of plant plane.—25-27 cm.         -   Plant width.—30-35 cm.         -   Growth rate.—36-40 weeks from a tissue culture plant to a             sellable potted plant.         -   Petiole.—Length: 3-12 cm. Diameter: Upper part:             0.45-0.55 cm. Lower part: 0.6-0.8 cm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Approximately 187A, dark purple. Sheath: Length:             Between 2-6 cm. Width: Between 0.3-0.7 cm. Apex: Nearly             round at tip. Texture: Smooth. Color: Approximately 187A,             dark purple. Geniculum: Length: Approximately 1 cm. Width:             Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Approximately             187A, but a little less dark. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Upside from each other.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—3-4 leaves.         -   Shape.—Orbicular.         -   Apex.—Round.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—Between 10 and 16 cm.         -   Width.—Between 10 and 15.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and shiny. Lower surface:             Smooth, with a dull sheen.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Venation pattern.—Primary veins on leaves radiate out from             the midrib along the length of the leaf.         -   Young leaf color.—Upper surface: Approximately N189A. Lower             surface: Approximately N186B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: 202A. Lower surface:             N186B.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: 202A (mature leaves). Midrib:             Between 186A and 186B. Lower surface: N186A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type/arrangement.—Short, terminally bracted spike.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flower spikes appear after 40             weeks from tissue culture plants.         -   Time to flower.—About 6-8 weeks.         -   Longevity.—About one day per flower.         -   Terminal bracts.—Number per inflorescence: Approximately             5-8. Texture: Smooth. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Length: 2.6-2.9 cm. Width:             1.4-1.7 cm. Young bract color: Upper and lower surfaces:             Between 147C and 148B. Mature bract color: Upper and lower             surfaces: Between 147C and 148B; on the tip of the lower             surface, there is a spot colored between 168A and 168B.         -   Lower bracts.—Number per inflorescence: 10-15. Texture:             Smooth and shiny. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Ovate.             Margin: Entire. Length: 1.5-1.8 cm. Width: 2.0-2.5 cm. Young             bract color: Upper and lower surfaces: 145D. Mature bract             color: Upper and lower surfaces: 145D.         -   Flowers (no commercial significance).—Arrangement: Around             the inflorescence. Number of flowers/buds per branch             spike: 1. Number of flowers/buds per inflorescence: 10-15.             Calyx: Number of sepals per flower: 3. Length: Approximately             1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 0.5 cm. Color: Approximately             145D. Corolla: Number of petals per flower: 3, parted.             Length: Approximately 3 cm. Width: Approximately 0.5 cm.             Color: Approximately 145D. Staminodes: Number per flower: 3.             Length: Two of them are about 3.5 cm, and the other one is             about 3 cm. Width: Two of them are about 0.4 cm, and the             other one is about 0.45 cm. Color: 155D with 78C.             Reproductive organs: Stamen number per flower: 1. Filament             length: 2 cm. Anther length: 0.23-0.26 cm. Anther color:             Approximately 155D. Style length: 2.5-3 cm. Style color:             Approximately 155D. Pollen amount and color: Not measured.             Ovary length: 0.3 cm. Ovary color: 158B. Scapes: Length:             10-11 cm. Diameter: 0.35-0.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth. Color: The base color is between 147C and 148B, and             toward the upper part, the color is N186B. -   General:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Unknown.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Unknown. 

1. A new and distinct Calathea Roseopicta (Linden) Regel plant named ‘Princess Jessie’ as is herein described and illustrated. 